The Logansport Press from Logansport, Indiana • Page 1

GOVERNMENT FORECAST Weather Snow By Night, And On Thurs. Over State LOGANSPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY LOGANSPORT PRESS Only Local Morning Paper Serving Cass, Carroll, Pulaski Miami, Fulton, White Counties Good Morning 38; NO. 138. NBA TELEPHOTOS LOGANSPORT, INDIANA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1958 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PRICE TEN CENTS X-MARSHAL ADMITS BANK HOLDUP Snowstorm Moving Toward Midwest ALBUQUERQUE. N.M.

surfaces throughout New Mexico, Thousands of motorists began inching their way out of New Mexico and across the Texas Pan- West Texas and Colorado. But the main storm front rolled over the Midwest, where heavy handle Tuesday as a storm which 1S had trapped them swept irtto the Midwest. All roads in the Southwest which had been blocked by drifts to seven feet deep were opened, but road conditions remained extremely dangerous in some areas. As night fell, snow which had thawed during an overcast day began freezing again on highway Oklahoma, soulh-cen- tral and southeast Kansas and southwest and central Missouri. Highway conditions deteriorated rapidly over that area and into Arkansas, northeast Texas and southern Illinois.

The Weather Bureau forecast a glaze of ice over roads in those areas. Up to four inches of snow, or more, was forecast for the affect- ed Midwestern. sections, mixed I Power was restored to the last with Freezing rain as the snow I of 30,000 Albuquerque homes left spread east. without electricity by a record. 15- Six dead were counted in Tex- i inch snow which snapped trans- as, New and Colorado as mission, lines all over the city, the storm moved out.

Four died in Texas weather-caused traffic accidents, one on icy Denver streets, and a New Mexico Railway employe was killed by a train as he labored to clear a snow-clogged switch. Schools in the Tucumcari, N.M., are. where snowfall reached 25 inches, closed through Wednesday. New Mexico State Police said traffic was moving, but very with the worst areas on U.S. 60 and 54 around Clincs Corners east of Albuquerque.

Traffic was being discouraged on nearly all highways, especially U.S. 64 north from. New Mexico into Colorado through mountain passes. Chains were needed on other passes. JUDGE Klesling, right, is shown as he took the oalh of office at the court house yesterday.

Giving the oath is Frederick Landis, of this city, chief justice of (he Indiana Supreme Court. Judge Kiesling takes office tomorrow. (Press Photo Engraving) Kiesling And Palmer Sworn At Ceremony New Judge And New Prosecutor Take Office Thursday Two new Cass county officials were formally issued the oath of office at impressive ceremonies in a crowded court room of the Cass circuit court Tuesday afternoon as Judge-elect Norman L. Riesling and Prosecutor-elect Earl R. Palmer were sworn in to start i two grandchildren; four 'great- Susanna Newer, 85, Deer Creek, Dies At Nursing Home Newer, 85, wife of A.

A. Newer, of route 1, Camden, died at 1:15 Tuesday at the Deer Creek nursing home after a lingering illnass. Born April 7, 1873, at Deer Creek she was the daughter of John and Elizabeth Wright Groninger. She was the' oldest member of Mt. Olive Lutheran church at Deer Creek.

Her marriage on Dec. 20, in 1893 was to A. A. 'Newer, who survives. Also surviving are two daughters and a son: Dorothy Urban Newer, at home; Mrs.

Pauline Cornell, Indianapolis; Clarence, this city; duties January 1. Two old family Bibles were used in the administering of the oaths of office for the two newly-elected I grandchildren; two sisters: Mrs. Grace Hopkins, this city; and Mrs. Jessie Platt, Valparaiso. Friends may call at the Chase- Miller funeral home after five officials.

An 1866 Bible brought to Logans-! o'clock this evening. port from Virginia by Christian! Kiesling, grandfather of circuit! Ujf Judge-elect Norman Kiesling. was! II I JIGS If used when he was sworn in byi Frederick Landis of! Mil linn the State Supreme Court. $4 In administering the oath of office to Prosecutor-elect Earl R. Palmer, Circuit Judge Clifford 0.

Wild used a Bible published in 1773 and brought to this country from England by Wild's great grandfather. Lawyers and judges from most of the neighboring counties assembled along with local law men, their wives, court attaches and friends for the ceremonies. Attorney Lynn O'Neill, president of the Cass county Bar Association, introduced the visiting judges along with R. C. Hillis, dean of the local Bar and county officials.

A reception and buffet luncheon, prepared by a committee of wives of Cass county Bar members, headed by Mrs. J. T. Hillis, followed the program. Chief Justice Landis, a former The gross revenue of the two city utilities went above $2,000,000 in 1958 for the first time in their history.

The electric light return from accounts totaled $1,726,621, which is an increase of about $57,000 over the year. The water works return from accounts was $276,879, which is down about $10,000 from a year ago. The total of the two is $2,003,500, according to Bay manager of the utilities office. The electric fund gains each year I have followed the national tre'nd of seven percent increase, and this year is no exception. The net return likely will 'be-up somewhat year 'because the cost of production, is lower the new equipment.

local attorney, said the local pro- Tne actual cash income from gram is a preview for him as hei' plants is above 'the figures will swear in four 'state appellate court judges and one new state Supreme Court Justice in a special ceremony Monday. at Indianapolis next Tiny Baby Dies After Only 54 Hours Of Life CHICAGO (AP) Life ended Tuesday, after 54 hours, for Gloria Diane Hanses, born 3Ms months prematurely and weighing only 12 ounces. shown. They do not miscellaneous revenue. It, however, 1958 A Bad Year For Car Accidents In Cass County 18 Met Death On Cass Highways, Another Died In Fire The year of 1958 has been one of the bloodiest in the history of Cass county.

Eighteen persons died in auto accidents on Cass county highways and Logansport streets. Sixteen died in the county and two more died as a result of accidents in Logansport. The mortality figure for the year could go higher since any accident today would be charged to the 1958 total. In addition, a fire in downtown area cost the life of one man. Charles Weger, 59, died in January when.

swept through a three-story brick building at 419 Market. The building housed the Thrifty Mac store. Weger lived in a third-story apartment, A family of six was rescued in the same early-morning blaze. Damage was estimated at $50,000. The worst fire of the year destroyed the Pennsylvania Railroad roundhouse July 20.

Damage in that fire was estimated at $1,000,000. Three Died in One The worst crash of the year occurred April 20, south of Metea on state road 25. Three persons died in that crash. Dead were Steven Striggle, 16, Rochester, Howard McDougle, 17, Fulton, and Harold Bowyer, 30, Fulton. Ralph L.

DePoy, 29, Macy, became Cass county's first traffic victim of 1958 when he burned to False Report Of Bank Robbery In Cass County You ihave to foe careful what you say, especially when' you use hyperbole talking to a policeman. Especially when you mention bank Hi AViJO W11UU lie UU1 1UJU LU robbery in these days of bank death Jan 4 his semi tank robberies. Hy.per.bok is 'an exaggeration to stress a like saying "it is raining cats and dogs." Evelyn Carson, wife of 0. R. Carson, out-going sheriff, just wanted Deputy George Shanks to come in right away, so she called police to 'have them contact him by radio.

When she added "There's been a robbery at Galveston," those were action words. The radio man tried to contact Shanks and otherwise gave him the alanm. State police heard it and sent a unit. A Press photographer and reporter sped to the scene. Other state cars were coming from' Lafayette.

The bank was dark and quiet. Galveston Marshal Malcolm Taylor was there. He had heard it, too, and didn't know how the report originated. The officers called back, thinking maybe it was another place. Mrs.

Carson was contacted and explained the reason for her statement. "I really hope it didn't cause too much of a stir," she said. Byers Gets Garbage Contract For 1959 The city yesterday renewed its contract with George Byers for another year for the hauling of garbage. The bid by Byers for the year 1959 was the only one submitted. It was for $151000, the 'same amount paid during the 'past four years.

Byers has equipment to cook the garbage' and feed it to hogs, the cooking haying 'been required by law a number of would have no appreciable effect, years garbage is to be fed. Wo Press Thursday Morning There will be no issue of The Press Thursday morning. Operating as at Christmas, the next issue of The Press will come on Friday morning. Employes of The Press will be on vacation New Year's Eve, but will work New Year's Day and evening to report the holiday news. 7 truck on U.

S. 24, east of Logansport. Millard (Pete) Rhody, 62, Royal Center, died in a-head-on collision Jan. 17, north of Logansport on U.S. 35.

Dale Dills, 39, Winamac, iinjured in the same crash, died the following day. Three-year-old Karen Dunn lie- came Logansport's first traffic fatality April 15, when she was hit Cuban Fighting Continues But Who Is Winning? Both Sides Claim Batista Is Worried HAVANA rebel radio declared Tuesday night that the overthrow of President Fug- lencio Batista's government is near. Government sources countered with a claim, that Batista's troops are dominating the bloody fighting in Santa Clara. Broadcasts by Fidel Castro's rebel radio omitted any mention of the continuing battle in Santa Clara, where in 48 hours casualties have mounted into the thousands during some of th worst fighting in Cuba's history. Earlier, the Castro radio had predicted victory in the provincial capital, about 180 miles south- cast of Havana.

Rebel columns had entered the city in a bold strategic maneuver aimed at cutting Havana off from th rich sugar provinces in the southeast provide the foundation the island republic's economy. Move Near Havana In another daring move, rebel saboteurs struck far behind the Dattle lines In suburban Havana and blew up an arms company varehouse packed with dynamite. Two smaller blasts were reported the capital itself. Reliable sources estimated the dead and wounded on both sides in Santa Clara already have topped 3,000, and the total prob- aulj- will rise higher before the fighting enas. Batista, a former army sergeant who first seized power in 1933, was reported ready to take persona! command of his if necessary.

They outnumber Castro's rebel irregulars by at least 7-1 on a nationwide reckoning, and up to now Castro has avoided a snow- down fight in the Batista Worried (Batista apparently viewed the situation as grave. Two of his sons, Carlos. Manuel, about 10, Roberto Francisco, about 12, were hurriedly shipped out of the country, presumably as a precautionary move. They arrived in New York from Havana Tuesday night.) The government rushed reinforcements from all sectors to Santa Clara. Thousands of fresh troops were supported by artillery, tanks, and planes.

One government source estimated that air assaut had cost the casualties running close to 2,000 killed and wounded. HARRY BAtRD Veteran Officer Works Last Day Harry Baird, next to the oldest city policeman in point of years service, is working his last day $2,275 Loot Found On Farm Where He Worked CRAWFORDSVILLE, Ind. (AP) burly onetime town marshal of Jamestown was arrested by the FBI and state police Tuesday and charged with the $2,275 holdup Monday' of Bank. the Ladoga State today. Police said Henry R.

Persinger, 37, admitted sticking up the bank after hiring a baby sitter to look after his three children while he drove the 11 miles from his farm home to do the job. All the loot was recovered, police said, in a search of the iarm near Jamestown owned by President Herman B. Wells of Indiana University. Persinger worked ior the tenant farm who operated the place for Dr. Wells.

Officers credited intensive all- night questioning of area residents' with the quick capture within 24 hours after th bank was robbed while bank directors conferred in a back room. One man recalled that Persinger nickel-plated gun used in the robbery was relriev from the home of Persinger's father-in-law, Carl C. Kram of Roachdale. The former marshal was quoted as saying he took care of. the children during the Jay w.iila his wife worked in a Jamestown chicken hatchery.

He said he hired a girl to the youngsters while he pulled off the hoiduu. Jamestown i i ns were shocked at Persinger's arrest, describing him as a sober, hardworking man as town marshal for a year about six years ago and also reliable as a filling station attendant. Persinger seemed to be in a sort of daze during questioning at the bank, although he wiilngiy displayed his handcuffs for photographers. He plans take retirement as owned a 1950 Buick answering the of January 16, but with days off description of the mud-spattered and vacation time, will be eligible getaway car, the FBI reported, to end his service as of December' and it was learned that he had 31. i washed the car shortly after ttta Baird went on the department holdup Monday.

on December 1, 1934 and onlyi Not satisfied with Persinger's i -j -r. Lt. Basil in an interview, the po- ul fe tiant, Re- 5-Year Report Shows Progress Being Made Here service. He has been a radioman lice and federal agents confronted for 21 years, right from the start, him with Mrs. Eva M.

William- Dallas Firm To Build BH Homes Dallas, construction firm has been -r im awarded a $4,062,135 contract to build 250 family housing units at on Woodlawn avenue. Hichard Decker, 28, Logansport, Bunker Hill (Ind.) Air Force Base, it was announced Tuesday. The office of Sen. Homer Cape- May 9 in a car-train accident Roy Vernon, 70, Royal Center, killed June 15 when his auto Mt by a train at the Jenkins crossing north of Logansport. Double Fatal Bessie Bergsma, 77, Lafayette, died two days.later when the car in which she was riding hit a train on U.S.

24 at the France Stone Quarry east of Logansport. Her husband, John, also 77, died two days later from injuries sustained in the same crash. Gary Moore, three years old, was killed July 14 when' he was struck by a car' at Adamsboro. Eighteen-year-old Glenda Rogers, of Kewanna, 'died of injuries sustained in a crash Aug. 19 on state road 16, east of Royal Center.

Two days later --Donald Lechleidner, 40, Monticello, killed in an accident near Anoka. On Oct. 18, Robert Beckman, 19, Logansport, was killed in a one- car accident, on High street road, just outside the A. Kingery died Oct. 30, shortly after he was struck by.

a car in. front of his Twelve Mile residence. Delbert Norman, 17, 'DeLong, died December 2nd of injuries sustained on November 26, when he fell from, a car on-Michigan avenue. He was Logansport's second traffic victim.of the year. Willis Grable, route 6, was killed Dec.

12, dn a two-car accident on state road 16, two miles west of Twelve Mile. Grable was'the eighteenth victim of the year. Construction Co. of Dallas the low bidder. Construction of the new units was expected to begin around March 1.

of police radios. Prior to joining the police force, Baird was county surveyor for two terms and is still a registered engineer. He and his wife live at 705 West Market. son, 56, the bank teller, and Elmer Thompson, a customer. Both of them unhesitatingly identified the i pairs, Sewer Work, Among Items Logansport can once again be "The City of Bridges," mem uiuiuaiiaungiy icienuned me ,7 ex-lawman as the robber i nce th air of a11 ci bridges Polic took Persinger back to Was they said he quickly admitted the holdup.

Tht $750 Robbery At Peru Station youthful robbers stole $150 from Sharps Sinclair station at 6:40 last evening after hitting the attendant in the stomach" and holding him at knife or gun point. Larry Hudson. 22, who works at the station at Sixth and Broadway, told officers thai the young men came in, hit him with their fists and forced him to open the cash register. They held him at knife or gun point, he was not sure which, while they cleaned out the register, ripped the telephone from the wall and ran out of the station, headed west on Sixth street. Hudson called a passerby who phoned police from the Moose lodge near the station.

Lewis Sharps is the owner of the station. Hudson described the thieves as being about 18. Both were wearing dark clothing. It was believed that a third youth stayed in an escape car nearby, Peru police, chased an unidentified auto later but it was not known if the car's occupants were connected with the robbery. Ike To Cover Wide Range In His Speech GETTYSBURG, Pa.

White House put a new, broader label 'Tuesday on the President's annual State of the Union message. It said the address also would coyer the state of the' world. Sheriff Had 900 In Jail During The, Year Rescue 45 From Split Vessel Off Maryland Coast Copters Hoist Them Off Striken Ship, To Safety OCEAN Md. oil tanker broke in two in the Atlantic Tuesday. As its 45 crewmen worked desperately to prevent an explosion, a helicopter airlift was swiftly organized and whisked all to safety in a matter of hours.

"I knew the situation was des- 43, skipper of the African- Queen. "I was afraid at any minute the ship would catch fire." He ordered smoking halted, boilers shut down and lights' put out. Luckily, all aboard were on the larger, stern section. Minutes after Liberian tanker flashed a' distress signal a Navy plane found her and nine helicopters converged on the broken vessel from five states. Move Quickly In a little more than two hours after the distress call the first crewmen were put Two om the captain and first mate of the African aboard for a time after the others were rescued.

They later were removed 'by boat. Th 590-foot vessel, carrying a cargo of crude oil from Venezuela, apparently ran and broke up on a shoal. It aground 10 miles east southeast of this summer resort on the Atlantic Ocean. The Cass county Sheriff's department made 4,320 calls during the first 364 days of according to Sheriff 0. R.

Carson. Many of the calls were minor investigations and the total included the serving of 1,256 legal Sheriff Carson completes his four-year term in office today and Sheriff-elect Lonnie 0. Hall, will take occupancy of the jail Thursday. Sheriff and Mrs. Carson will-reside at 217.

Ninth. Sheriff Carson traveled 45,000 miles during the year, his arrest said. Deputy. Sheriff Roy King traveled 19,250 miles, Deputy George Shanks 20,336 and Deputy Lionel Davis 1,750, the report said. A total of 900 prisoners were lodged in the Cass jail -during 1958.

The total included' 767 from Also investigated were four first- degree burglaries, six cases of ar.med robbery and aut'o banditry, two cases of second-degree and 98 larceny reports. was called on 32 breaking and entry cases, 12 forgery, reports, 23 break-ins, 30 prowler IB assault and" battery 80 disorderly conduct reports, 22 cases of reckless driving, and 31 fires. There' were 74 persons investigated for. driving while trader the influence and 11 picked up for vagrancy. Twenty-two tresspassing cases were investigated and the department received Three reports of planes down were checked and 25 runaways were investigated.

The Sheriff also issued 35 firearm permits. There Cass county, 71 from White county were also 1B parole violations in- and 62. from Pulaski county. vestigated. The Sheriff's department an- was investigated as vestigated 217 auto' accidents and 58 miscellaneous mishaps during the year.

were two rape cases. The Sheriff's department also investigated numerous other cases. Year's Rainfall Total Rainfall in Logansport during 1958 totaled only 31:08 inches. The total was one of the lowest in recent years. Emmelt Spit-ler, weather observer here, said the 1958'total includes .28 of an inch during -December.

That is the least December, in any recently recorded -year. June had-the most rain, 11.14 inches and the December total was the lowest of- the year. Only in 1953 and 1956 was the rainfall lower than this, year's, during the past -ten years. Truck Off Cliff In Peru; 178 Fatalities LIMA, Peru (AP) A truck plunged, off a cliff near Huamachuco Andes Tuesday sending 17 persons to their deaths. Seven others were killed when a truck off a twisting road 50 miles north of Lima.

was included in 1953's construction program. The bridge repair was one of a number of projects either started or completed during the past One of the biggest projects completed during the year was the new municipal light plant, constructed at -a. cost of over $4,000,000. The new plant has a 17,500 generator and was opened in April. Logansport's downtown area continued to get a face-lifting during 1958 as many local merchants remodeled stores, and new sidewalks were laid in several sections of the business district.

Two new school additions were completed during the year and classes were held for the first time at the New Hendricks Special Education school on South Cicott. A new -wing at Daniel Webster elementary school was completed, complete with a new gymnasium. The Washington elementary school's new gym was also dedicated this year. The Hendricks school is the first of its type in Indiana. National Honor received National honor by being named number one city in its class for its activities during the 1958 Vehicle safety check campaign.

The traffic problem was further helped by the installation of traffic islands at-state road 25 and South Cicott. 'Most of the construction on the new wing at Memorial hospital was done during the year and the wing is expected to be in use sometime in January. first shopping center, Eastgate, was opened in 1958, and included a supermarket, drug store, barber shop, beauty shop and dentists office. An -annual event was started in Logansport. during the year.

"Let's Go, Logansport," proved such a success, it was decided to hold a similar program every year. The program, which included "Maxwell Street Day," lasted a week and was highlighted with the hanging of Recession B. Gloom'. New Christmas decoratins were purchased for the downtown area, and can be used over and over for a number of years. Previously, actual -trees were purchased and could only be used one year.

Sewer Project Going One of the city's largest projects," a sewage disposal was started during the year, and is to'be completed sometime in 1959 or 1960. Cost of the system is AJso started during the year was Logansport's municipal airport, being constructed south of the city. Looking ahead to 1959, the city school board expects to take bids, possibly in February, for the new grade school to be constructed at Fairview "park. Five are scheduled for construction in 1959, the first step in the state-approved Logansport around the south side of Logansport. A new Neil Home.for Uie aged is expected to be built in 1959.

The Chamber of Commerce plans sponsor a city beautification more off-street parking lots -are lanticipated..